Two
societal problems, obesity and unwanted pets in shelters,
may have a common solution. A research program at the Research
Center on Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), College of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, will pair people
needing exercise with shelter animals wanting a walk.

Research shows the benefits of people walking
dogs to lose weight and maintain active lifestyles, says Rebecca
Johnson, PhD, RN, and ReCHAI director. A previous ReCHAI research
study showed that enjoyable interaction with a dog changes
body chemistry that enhances a person’s physical well
being. Another study demonstrated that owning a dog prompts
people to exercise more through dog walking, with the exercise
promoting weight loss.

The high rate of obesity in US adults and
children creates a compelling need for innovative projects
aimed at increasing physical activity, Dr. Johnson states.
A community dog walking project would increase physical activity
among children and adults, educate the public about the health
benefits of walking, increase community awareness about dogs
available for adoption, and increase shelter dog adoption
rates.

The program, which will begin Saturday,
April 21, is a joint project by ReCHAI, the City of Columbia,
Mo., Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, PedNet, Happy
Tails Animal Sanctuary, Second Chance Animal Rescue, and the
Central-Missouri Humane Society. Participation fees of $10
per walker will be donated to local shelters.

The program consists of Saturday community
dog-walks held at the Bear Creek Trail in north Columbia.
In Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, adults and families with children
walk shelter dogs on existing trails in the park. Shelter
dogs participating in the walks are selected by shelter staff
based on adoptability, amicable personality, and ability to
be walked.

Program participants will receive a t-shirt,
and be given the opportunity to enroll in a study of their
weight, blood pressure, mood, and physical activity patterns
before and after participating in the program. Other organizations,
such as the Missouri State Health Department, will provide
health and nutritional information. Other health-related organizations
may offer free obesity and blood pressure screenings.

“We anticipate that there will be
weight loss and an increase in physical activity outside of
the weekly dog walks among those who participate in the study,”
Dr. Johnson relates. “We will also monitor dog adoption
rates at the three local animal shelters before and after
implementation of the project. Similar projects have been
conducted in Indianapolis and Lubbock with favorable outcomes
in people and in shelter adoption rates.”

Dr. Johnson is encouraged that people who
start the project will participate each week. In the earlier
Walking for Healthy Hearts project, 72 percent of participants
consistently walked the dogs because they believed the dogs
needed the walking.

For those not electing to participate in
the weight-loss study, the Walk a Hound program will be a
fun, family-oriented way to increase physical activity, Dr.
Johnson says. She states that there is no reason why this
pilot program could not be emulated statewide, particularly
in rural areas where obesity is a greater problem.

ReCHAI researches ways that positive human-animal
interaction can provide non-pharmaceutical therapy and health
benefits. Another research project is measuring how visits
with a dog affects mood, perception of health, and sense of
coherence among cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
Other projects are showing how pet attachment enhances the
health and well being among ethnic elders, and how pets can
help older adults more easily relocate to a nursing home.

Dr. Johnson also is the Millsap Professor
of Gerontological Nursing at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing.